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what car should I get thread #34824236482

I love my jetta, but I'm sick of driving automatic and am not sure of long term reliability. I'm about to hit 42k which puts the value of my car at about 13000, maybe 12.

Here is what I want: Manual transmission, 13000 maximum pricetag, somewhat good gas mileage, (~25 mpg+) dont really care about body style, as long as it isnt a crossover, suv or truck. I would like something alittle more reliable that the 2.0t (even though it is a good engine imo) Must be somewhat fun to drive...

Here is what I have in mind...
-an unmolested mk4 R32 (problem is anything in my range usually has 100k+)
-8th gen civic si (these also seem to be pretty high mileage in my price range)
-any 2.5L, mkv/mkvi volkswagen (i hear these are somewhat slow?)
-clean 5th gen prelude

What am I missing? How reliable are mk4 R32's? Should I totally rethink what I want?

It depends on how much space you want and where you live. If I was looking to buy a new-ish car right now that was reliable, safe, and got great gas mileage, I'd get a Honda Fit Sport. That model is built in Japan. They actually loose money on every one they sell, and because of where it is assembled, build quality is top notch. Gets stupidly high gas mileage, will last forever, carries a bunch of crap for the size, maintains resale value, insurance will be cheap, tires are small so you won't have to spend a fortune on those when it's time for new ones and you can park it in spots most cars wouldn't fit in sideways.

Yes, it doesn't have a lot of HP, but it also weighs almost nothing. Reviews I've read of it from people that like sports cars and hatchbacks have been very positive and refer to it as eminently tossable. It'd be fun in corners.

Not sure what the used values are like, but considering they are around 18k new, you should be able to find on in your price range used. just remember, get the sport version as it supposedly has a little more pep. I'm very much a sporty/sports car guy and my current plans, when my VW bites it, is to pick up a fit sport when I can afford it and, when I have an extra garage space, get an old Lexus SC 300 and drop a single turbo supra motor in there so I have a sleeper with around 500hp for the weekends and a great city car with stupid gas mileage and low insurance for every other time. I think it's a good plan!

It depends on how much space you want and where you live. If I was looking to buy a new-ish car right now that was reliable, safe, and got great gas mileage, I'd get a Honda Fit Sport. That model is built in Japan. They actually loose money on every one they sell, and because of where it is assembled, build quality is top notch. Gets stupidly high gas mileage, will last forever, carries a bunch of crap for the size, maintains resale value, insurance will be cheap, tires are small so you won't have to spend a fortune on those when it's time for new ones and you can park it in spots most cars wouldn't fit in sideways.

Yes, it doesn't have a lot of HP, but it also weighs almost nothing. Reviews I've read of it from people that like sports cars and hatchbacks have been very positive and refer to it as eminently tossable. It'd be fun in corners.

Not sure what the used values are like, but considering they are around 18k new, you should be able to find on in your price range used. just remember, get the sport version as it supposedly has a little more pep. I'm very much a sporty/sports car guy and my current plans, when my VW bites it, is to pick up a fit sport when I can afford it and, when I have an extra garage space, get an old Lexus SC 300 and drop a single turbo supra motor in there so I have a sleeper with around 500hp for the weekends and a great city car with stupid gas mileage and low insurance for every other time. I think it's a good plan!

I was looking at fit sports on autotrader...they seem to be really well priced. Only thing is my neighbors across the street have one and they already had to get rust repair on the doorsills
Car is an '08 but then again they dont wash it very often....

I've never lived somewhere rust is a problem (moss in the PAC NW, but not rust). As long as there is paint on the car and a protective coating underneath, you should be fine, right? If you buy a car that has spent its life somewhere where the roads aren't salted you should at least be able to get one with no issues like that. It'd be a little more expensive to travel to get it, but you could make it a road trip.

Yeah, if you're looking for reliability I'm thinkin' a MK4 R32 is not where you want to look. MK5's were a huge upgrade over MK4s in every way except for looks. Faster, handle better, more reliable, the only thing that wasn't as good about MK5s was the looks in my opinion. I'm really not sure why you are worrying about reliability when your car only has 42k.

Why not a MK5 GTI with a 6 speed? It's pretty much the same thing you have now except lighter and manual.

I've never lived somewhere rust is a problem (moss in the PAC NW, but not rust). As long as there is paint on the car and a protective coating underneath, you should be fine, right? If you buy a car that has spent its life somewhere where the roads aren't salted you should at least be able to get one with no issues like that. It'd be a little more expensive to travel to get it, but you could make it a road trip.

I dont know if upstate ny is particularly bad or what...you would not believe the rust here. If you dont diligently wash your car at least every other week you will see rust. Hell, I wash my car once a week from april to at least november and I have rust bubbles in 3/4 of the door sills.

I dont know if upstate ny is particularly bad or what...you would not believe the rust here. If you dont diligently wash your car at least every other week you will see rust. Hell, I wash my car once a week from april to at least november and I have rust bubbles in 3/4 of the door sills.

We use salt here in Michigan too. I hate it, it pisses me off so much. Which is why I have an old MK3 2.0 beater for winter.

I also know someone who owns a Fit which they bought brand new in 08 which already has rust.

I have been looking at these too...only worry is how well the top will hold up in the winter. Can you get decent hard-tops for these?

Yes you can, but they're pricey and make Miata hardtops look cheap. I paid $3K for mine, although I bought it new (it's an own hardtop; hydroformed aluminum). Used ones can be found for less, but you'll have to be patient until the right one comes along. There are other hardtops, such as ones from spoon and mugen as well, but they too are pricey, but again, used ones can be found at decent prices if patient (I'm wasn't patient enough).

Yeah, if you're looking for reliability I'm thinkin' a MK4 R32 is not where you want to look.

Don't have much to add except that my R32 has been perfectly reliable since day 1 of ownership. Only time I had to get it towed is when I ran over a nail and it destroyed my front tire. As everyone knows the fix a flat kits that came with them (no spare tire due to the rear pan setup with the awd) suck and don't work.

have you thought about a e36 m3 for your prices? It might take a month or two but you can definitely find the right one for your price range and sub 100k miles.

I don't know about that. A newer 2.5 MT Golf with the 170hp 2.5 is pretty quick. Also, they are the most reliable car VW has ever built (more reliable than the average Honda or Toyota, according to Consumer Reports). Certainly much more reliable than anything else on your list.

After incessant complaints from a to z, I am now calling all of my characters "special."

8th gen Si or Accord V6. You might also try to find Acura Cl Type S 2003 with manual, but those are rare to find.

Originally Posted by l88m22vette

Modded = beat to ****
Stock = driven by 87 year old grandmother
Miss Daisy might not do all her own work and rub her car with a diaper, but she also wasn't a flatbrim bro who hoped boosted VTAK would make women jump into the car naked at 50mph.